Coupling and draw-bar for grain-drills.



PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

W. FETZER.

COUPLING AND DRAW BAR FOR GRAIN DRILLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

W. FETZER.

COUPLING AND DRAW BAR FOR GRAIN DRILLS.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 19. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT OEErcE.

VILLIAM FETZER, OF HIDDLETOIVN, OHIO.

COUPLING AND DRAW-BAR FOR GRAIN-DRILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,037, dated. April25, 1905.

Application filed November 19, 1904. Serial No. 233,452.

To all 1071 0712 it Hwy concern- Be it known that I, \VILLIAM Fn'rznn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county ofButler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Couplings and Draw-Bars for Grain-Drills, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a novel coupling and draw-bar for grain-drillswhich, although primarily designed for utilization in mounting diskdrills whereby they may be disposed in either straight or zigzagrelation, is susceptible of use in connection with various types ofimplements associated with farming machinery, as will be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

A convenient embodiment of the invention comprehends a draw-bar incombination with a coupling member having provision for attachment tothe drag-bar or shank of an implement and means whereby said couplingmember may be secured to the draw-bar to occupy either a projected orretracted position relative to the latter to secure the desired distancebetween said draw-bar and the implement or a point of contact of thelatter with the ground. By the employment of a number of these couplingmembers in connection with the draw-bar it is obvious that the disks orother implements may be arranged at relatively different distances fromthe draw-bar, whereby their zigzag disposition is readily obtainable ina structure which also permits the arrangement of said implements instraight lines as occasion therefor arises.

More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises adraw-bar composed of two bars (in some instances one bar may beadequate) having relatively flat opposing surfaces and a coupling memberhaving provision for attachment to the drag-bar of an implement andportions adapted to interlock with said bar or bars in either of itsreversed positions zl (1 when the coupling member projects eitherforwardly or rear- Wardly from the draw-barand a fastening device forsecuring the parts in operative relation. This embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming parthereof, and upon a consideration of the same in connection with thedetailed description hereinafter the improved features of arrangementand detail will be apparent.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fragmentarycharacter, showing my improved draw-bar and a series of coupling devicesmounted upon a machine. Fig'. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view throughthe draw-bar, showing the coupling in one position. Fig. 3 is a similarview showing the coupling in a retracted position, and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the coupling member removed.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts in the several views, Adesignates the frame of the machine, and B supporting-brackets dependingtherefrom at separated points and of sufficientnumber to afford properstrength. These supporting members each have a forwardly-disposedaperture I) and a rearwardly-disposed aperture 71' for a purpose as willhereinafter appear.

O represents a pair of superposed fiat steel bars, conveniently of strapmetal, constituting a draw-bar and having opposing flat inner surfaces 0for contact with couplings to be now defined. These superposed flat barsoccupy transversely true horizontal positions, as clearly indicated inFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

D represents the couplings for securing the implements, in the presentinstance disk drills E, to the draw-bar U. Adjacent to the respectiveedges of each coupling and on both its upper and lower surfaces are sidefianges F, the same being cut away at their upper ends to providesubstantially rectangular horizontally-disposed seats Ur for thereception of the bars O. The shoulders formed by the cutting away ofthese flanges, abut one edge of the bars 0, while lugs r at the upperend of the coupling abut the opposite edge of said bars. By thisarrangement it will be noted that the coupling on both its upper andlower surfaces has separated bearing-points against the bars O, wherebyany play of the couplings relative to the draw-bar is positively prevented. Centrally-disposed bolts H, passing through alined apertures inthe couplings and bars U, and nuts engaging said bolts removably fastenthe parts in place. At the lower ends of the castings they are providedwith outwardly-projecting stub pintles or pivots I for the separatedarms j of the drag-bars J of the implements E, whereby the latter arepivoted to rise and fall, as is usual.

It is to be noted that the lower ends of the couplings extend outwardlyand downwardly relative to the securing portions thereof having theseats Gr, before referred to. This is to insure against any interferencewith the dragbars on the part of the draw-bar.

Referring now more especially to Fig. 1, wherein the zigzag arrangementof the implements is illustrated, it will be seen that the draw-bar issecured by certain of the removable bolts and nuts H in the rearmostapertures b of the supporting-brackets B; also, that the couplingmembers are alternately arranged and project some forwardly and somerearwardly relative to the draw-bar, whereby the disks arecorrespondingly arranged at different points from the draw-bar, so thattheir arrangement in a zigzag fashion is secured.

When it is desired that the disks or implements move in a straight linetransversely of the machine, the draw-bars O are shifted to the foremostapertures b in the brackets and all of the couplings arranged to projectrearwardly therefrom. This ready removal and retracting of the couplingmembers is a highly desirable feature of my invention, inasmuch as it issimply necessary to remove the securing-bolt, spring the bars C slightlyapart, and withdraw any particular coupling from therebetween andreinsert the same after the same manner. In this connection it will alsobe noted that any number of the couplings and implements may be removedfrom the machine without in any Way affecting those remaining. Theimportance of this is probably more appreciated when it is rememberedthat in accordance with the character of work to be performed by themachine the implements can be arranged at varying distances apart, forsome purposes a few relatively widely associated implements beingsufficient, while in others it being necessary to employ a larger numberof relatively closely associated implements. The resultant advantagesover the prior art should be obvious.

The object sought by arranging the implements in zigzag fashion is toprevent the catching and accumulation of trash, stones, clods of earth,cornstalks, &c., in front of and between the furrow openers and thelike, which results in serious clogging of the machine in its use undersome conditions and in certain portions of the country.

I have hereinbefore stated that when the zigzag arrangement is resortedto and the consequent alternate arrangement of the coupling membersnecessitated the draw-bar is arranged at the rear of the brackets B,and, on the other hand, when the implements run in a straight line andthe couplings all project rearwardly the draw-bar is mounted at theforward portion of said brackets. This is to insure the operation of allof the disks, whether in straight or zigzag arrangement, at a properangle to the rear presser bar, (designated at K.)

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thedisclosure herein made, because many changes and alterations may be madewithout in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A coupling of the character described having a horizontally-disposedsecuring portion provided with seats in its upper and lower surfacesadapted to engage a two-part drawbar, and an outwardly and downwardlyextending portion adapted to engage a drag-bar.

2. In a machine of the character described, a draw-bar consisting of aflat metallic member having provision for the attachment thereto ofcoupling members, said draw-bar occupying transversely a true horizontalposition whereby said coupling members may be projected or retractedrelative to the draw-bar.

3. In a machine of the character described, a draw-bar consisting ofsuperposed flat metallic members having provision for the attachmenttherebetween of coupling members, said flat metallic members occupyingtransversely true horizontal positions whereby said coupling membersmaybe projected or retracted relative to the draw-bar.

4:. In a machine of the character described, a draw-bar, an implement,means whereby the implement may be adjustably secured to said draw-bar,brackets, and means for removably securing the draw-bar to said bracketswhereby it may be bodily shifted to different positions of adjustment.

5. In a machine of the character described, a draw-bar, a couplingthereon adapted to be projected and retracted relative thereto, animplement connected with said coupling, and means for removably securingthe draw-bar in place whereby it may be bodily shifted to differentpositions of adjustment.

6. In a machine of the character described, a draw-bar,a series ofcouplings thereon adapted to be projected or retracted relative thereto,implements connected with said couplings, and means for securing thedraw-bar in place whereby it may be bodily shifted to differentpositions of adjustment.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with animplement, and its drag-bar, a draw-bar, and a coupling on said draw-bar arranged between the same and said dragbar and adapted to occupya projected or retracted position relative to the draw-bar.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aseries of implements and their drag-bars, of a draw-bar, and acorresponding series of couplings on said drawbar one arranged betweenthe same and each drag-bar and adapted to occupy a projected orretracted position relative to the drai '-bar.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with aseries of implements and their drag-bars, a draw-bar and a correspondingseries of couplings on said drawbar one connected with each drag-bar,and instrumentalities whereby any of said coupling members may beprojected or retracted relative to the draw-bar independently of theother couplings.

10. In combination with a draw-bar, a coupling thereon adapted to occupya projected or retracted position relative thereto, and means whereby adrag-bar may be secured to the coupling.

11. In combination with a draw-bar, removable coupling members thereonoccupying alternately projected and retracted positions relative to saiddraw-bar.

12. In combination with a draw-bar, removable coupling members thereonoccupying alternately projected and retracted positions relative to saiddraw-bar, a drag-bar secured to each coupling member, and an implementoperatively associated with the drag-bar.

13. A draw-bar of the character described comprising superposed membershaving opposing surfaces adapted to receive removable couplingstherebetween, whereby said couplings may occupy a projected or retractedposition relative to the draw-bar, in combination with said removablecouplings, means operatively associated with said opposing members forcreating a binding pressure therebetween, drag-bars connected to thecouplings, and implements operatively associated with the drag-bars.

In testimony whereof Iaifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

\VlLLIAM FETZER.

\Vitnesses:

G. A. SULLIVAN, FLOYD CLrsn.

